Wilmington travel guide
Wilmington Tourism | Wilmington Guide
You're Going to Love Wilmington
With a population of 106,476, Wilmington is a must-see destination in North Carolina, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Wilmington deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Wilmington
Tours
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Museums
Other activities
Where to Eat in Wilmington
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Little Dipper (138 South Front Street) and Ceviche's (7210 Wrightsville Ave) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Butcher and Barrel by True Blue (110 Greenfield St 114) and Marina Grill (18 Harnett St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Wilmington.
When to visit Wilmington
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Wilmington in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 46.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 7.8″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Wilmington, with an average rainfall of 2.8″.
How to Get to Wilmington
Plane
When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Wilmington New Hanover County (ILM), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Wilmington include American Airlines, Delta and Qatar Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Wilmington departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 20m.
Train
The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 3 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car rental from Charlotte, which is about 182 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Dollar, among others, in Charlotte.
Bus
Greyhound operates bus routes to Wilmington. Wilmington’s bus station is located 2 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Wilmington
Where to stay in Wilmington
Average rates range from around $249 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $240 and up for a 5-star experience.
Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington
Most booked hotels in Wilmington
Renting a car in Wilmington
Renting a car in Wilmington costs $63 per day, on average, or $125 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Wilmington is the Budget branch at 6816 Gordon Road, which is 5 miles from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Wilmington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Class Intermediate Car or similar) are, on average, 65% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Wilmington
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$31/day
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$31/day